The Hong Kong government said it would consider banning the use of overseas communication platforms that expose personal information. According to several pro-communist media, Telegram, a social platform popular during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement, may be banned. Some data experts pointed out that Russia tried to ban Telegram, but found it wasn’t technically feasible. They also questioned the different law enforcement standards of the Hong Kong government. While targeting Telegram, it ignored the pro-communist websites that expose the personal information of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists.
Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Chung Lai-ling said at a meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs on May 16, since the implementation of the newly revised “Privacy Ordinance” six months ago, relevant behaviors are ongoing, and she will consider taking further action against platforms with rampant “privacy revealing” data, including invoking section 66L of the Privacy Ordinance to restrict the use of the relevant overseas platforms by the public.
